Pax slammed on the brakes. She grabbed a bottle of water and uncorked it before leaning back and proceeding to pour the contents of the bottle onto her face.
“I blame your damned invention for this, Amara!” she shouted.
“Yes!” squealed Amara, pumping her fist victoriously.
“This whole Para situation is messing with my brain. I swear, each time we break apart, there’s something of you left inside me! It’s changing my physical makeup and the way I think. I’m not the same as I was before.” Pax began to grumble in a low voice. “Just wait and see how I get you back for this! Wait until our date with Thorn! You’ll see.”
“Aw. Paxie's embarrassed for wanting to take a closer look at the family jewels?” said Amara, grinning. “You know, in some cultures it might be considered acceptable to… ouch! Ow, ow, ow! Pax, stop, stop! Don't hurt me! Calm down. I'm just teasing you because I love you.”
A bright yellow aura had formed around Pax as she growled at Amara. "I did this to help you!”
“Paaaaaxie!” whined Amara, tugging on her friend's sleeve. “This is what friends do. They tease. I was just kidding around.”
“And now you're manipulating me with the cute routine the same way you manipulate your father! And your brother! And my uncle! Do you think I’ll fall for your manipulation?”
“Fine, fine! I’ll stop.”
They drove on in silence for a few minutes before Pax began to chuckle, and then launched into a fit of laughter that resembled a seizure. Amara looked over at her and was about to enquire what was behind the laughter when she understood. She couldn’t read thoughts in this state, but she could read Pax. Seeing the serious woman in such throes of humor was contagious, and Amara also began to giggle.
Lesbians! They really thought we were lesbians? Pax couldn’t speak over body-rocking spasms of laughter. She clutched her sides and the car swerved out of the lane again. She corrected the steering clumsily with her mind.
Well, at least they have no clue what our real activities are, thought Amara smugly. When we’re through with them they're going to wish that we were lesbians.
Chapter 14: Exiled from Pax
“So, Thorn, want to hear about how my date went?”
“No, not really.” Thornton balanced the phone on his shoulder as he placed his signature mindlessly on the papers piled high on his desk.
“What’s wrong with you, man? Forgot to take your PMS medication?”
“Quit it, Ash. I’m just really not in the mood.” Thornton sighed as he fished around for the stapler that he was constantly losing.
“Don’t worry,” said the cheerful voice on the other end of the line. “I can get you in the mood. I know exactly what you want and I’m going to give it to you. Lots of it!”
“Uh, Ash?” The confused look on Thornton’s face was replaced by a startled one as a knock sounded on his office window. He didn’t have time to stand up before Asher let himself in, carrying several bags of takeout food which smelled heavenly. The dark-haired man closed his flip phone and shoved it back into its holster on his hip with a big smile.
“I figured out the reason you’ve been so grumpy lately. Pax always used to treat you with a midmorning snack around this time, and without her tender loving care, you’ve been practically starving!”
“That’s not all she used to treat me with,” mumbled Thornton.
"I draw the line there, man. Have some pork fried rice!”
Thornton glanced up at the insignia on the paper bag and frowned. “Did you have to get it from the Hakka place?”
“They make the best food,” Asher said as he unloaded the Styrofoam containers.
Thornton closed his eyes. “I can’t. I can’t eat that stuff anymore. Please take it away.”
“Are you sure?” Asher asked with his mouth already full. “Pork chops, man! To die for.”
Thornton used his telekinetic powers to savagely fling all of food through the window. “I can’t.”
“Hey! I’m poor, remember? Purchasing food is actually a luxury for me.”
“Sorry, Ash.” Thornton immediately reached into his back pocket and began peeling bills out of his wallet. “I’m just kind of upset lately.”
“No problem,” Asher said, taking the bills from his friend with a grin. He stuffed them in his pocket and tilted his head towards the window to indicate the Styrofoam containers bobbing in midair. “I caught the food anyway.”
Thornton smiled. “It’s nice to have a friend like you who can put up with my temper. Anyone else would go running.”
“Well, you may be difficult, but you’re still honorable. When we were kids and you destroyed something that belonged to me, you would always replace it with something way better. I trust you.”
“Thanks, Ash.” The blonde man began strumming his fingers on his desk with a forlorn look on his face. "I found the ring yesterday. You left it in my filing cabinet."
Asher nodded, sitting on the edge of his friend’s desk and tearing the meat off a chicken wing which he had floated back to his mouth. Thornton studied him for a second, leaning back in his chair. His eyes drifted to the window. “I realize that I lost my sanity for a while after Pax caught me with that girl. I took out my anger on you more than anyone else. I said really terrible things, but I didn’t mean any of it. I just couldn't believe that my life was falling apart so quickly. I really lost it.”
Asher chewed and swallowed. “I know. That’s in the past now anyway. Let’s not bring it up anymore. You did what you did, and I did what I did. Let’s just move on and have fun. You should set up your date with Medea!"
“Dammit. I don’t want Medea, Asher!” Thornton slammed his fist down on the desk.
Asher watched his friend warily, and shoved the food aside. “What do you want?”
Thornton looked up at his friend with misery etched in every contour of his face. “What do you think? I want… oh, Sakra. I can’t even say it.”
Asher stared at him. He tried to sense his friend’s prana for his emotions and felt… despair? He chewed his lip, identifying with the feeling well. Why was Thornton telling him this? Ah. He wanted permission. He wanted absolution. “Thorn, you know that you can have anything in the world.”
A small spark of hope seemed to bring life into Thornton’s aqua eyes. The blonde man seemed ready to thank his friend for his forgiveness, but Asher kept speaking. “You’ve been hearing that since you were born, hearing that the world is yours. It’s totally true; you are not only a prince among devas, but you’re a prince among humans too, in a way. You inherited the leadership of one of the world’s biggest corporations… you can in fact, have anything you desire on the planet.”
Thornton rose to his feet, feeling inspired by the younger man’s words. Asher had always looked up to him, making him feel greater than he was. His pride and vigor came rushing back to him. It was true. He wasn’t just an ordinary man, and he’d very much needed to be reminded of that. He wanted to hug his friend for his kindness and compassion when he most needed it.
“Thanks, Ash. I really…”
“Except Pax.”
His smile faded and his hopes receded. “What?”
“Not her. Not ever again. You could have a dozen women in your bed in a few minutes if you really wanted. Just walk through the office and ask them. Heck, I'll ask them for you. There are women literally camping out on the doorstep of the Kalgren Compound 24/7 for a chance at the richest blonde, blue-eyed bachelor around. You’re a cliché.”
“But…”
“But they're not Paxie?” mocked Asher in a whimpering voice. “No shit, Sherlock. You’re just going to have to get your kicks out of the dozens of other women around, human or not.”
“Not for kicks…”
"Yup. Why do you think I'm here? I know that Pax has been your best friend for over the past decade, ever since her mom died and you took her on that crazy trip. But you and I had decades of friendship before that. So here I am, the original B
urnson best friend, the replacement, to cheer you up with Chinese food and keep you from having an emo-tantrum.”
Thornton resisted the urge to retaliate. “I really appreciate that you've been there for me, Ash. But it’s not quite the same. She’s…”
“I know who she is! I know she’s more educated and interesting than I am, with a vagina to boot. But you should have thought of that before.” Asher was unusually serious. “Why do you want her back all of a sudden? After all the nightclubs, and all the crazy binge-drinking extravaganzas? Is it because she no longer wants you? She’s not playing hard to get, Thorn. She is impossible for you to get. Everyone knows that you cheated on her, including my brother. Well, Raymond doesn’t really want to believe it. He believes in you, for some reason.”
“And you don’t?”
“What is there to believe in? You admitted to me you cheated. You’re like a brother to me… closer than my own brother in most ways. But have you seen Pax lately? She looks like the walking dead, and she won't even give me the time of day. You took her from me. You turned her against me.”
Asher bit his lip after he said this. He knew that it wasn’t totally his friend’s fault—his own actions had played a huge role in causing Pax to become estranged from him, but he couldn’t help lashing out with blame. It was a reflex, even though he knew it wouldn’t assuage his own guilt, but only make it worse. He still couldn’t stop.
“You didn't just break her heart. You broke apart my family! A family that was already torn apart by tragedy. After my dad, and Bridget…” Asher shook his head. “Did you think that just because Pax is used to losing everyone she loves, it would be easy on her?”
“Ash,” Thornton said, closing his eyes in pain. His friend never grew angry with him. Thornton could have done the most despicable things imaginable, and Asher would have always been there by his side, supporting him and having his back. Always. No matter what. It seemed this was changing.
“And she loved you most of all,” Asher said, suddenly understanding his niece a little more. “That’s why this was the worst loss she has ever suffered…”
“Don’t say that,” Thornton snapped.
“You know it's true. She was so depressed, but you helped her past it—she grew from a miserable young girl into a loving, happy woman. You took such good care of her when she was in college, but now she’s regressing. She’s worse than when Bridget died. She’s not just in despair, but she’s vengeful. I hardly recognize her! She’s been a lot of things, but never vengeful.” Asher lifted himself off the edge of the desk, levitating in midair. “You have to stop chasing her. Forget Raymond… he’s an idealistic idiot and he doesn’t know you like I do. But I’m putting my foot down. I don’t want you going near Paxie anymore. Fuck anyone you want. I don’t care! Fuck the whole world, literally! But not her, not anymore.”
“How can you say that? She’s everything to me.”
“Ha! No one means anything to you except yourself! I've known you since we were kids, and I know this more than anyone. You only ever think of yourself. Even at 39, you’re not ready to really love another person. I guess I’m not either, but at least I’m man enough to admit it. I’m man enough not to chase after your sister when I know I am not good enough for her. I won’t hurt her again.”
Thornton looked up at his friend miserably. “You don’t understand. I may seem like I have it all because I have money and a good family. But I’d sacrifice everything for Pax. I need her.”
“No, you need to get laid.”
“Ash, do you remember the day Pax was born? Bridget and Raymond let us into the room to see her, and that tiny baby tossed a fireball at me. She hadn’t even opened her eyes yet or made a single noise, and she tossed a fireball at me. Wasn’t that the most adorable thing in the world?”
Asher restrained himself from smiling at the fond memory. Instead, he scowled. “Let me tell you something about people in the world who aren’t you. We don’t always get what we want. Regardless of how much we want it, and how much we sacrifice.”
Thornton stopped protesting and remained silent. Asher immediately felt guilty for being too mean and tried to lessen the blow. “Look, if you don’t want to date the generic fangirls who are obsessed with you, go after Medea. She’s not just another random woman; she’s special. I’m not really sure if she likes me yet, but she promised you a date. So do yourself and Pax a favor and move on.”
Thornton stared at his friend without really seeing him. His hand went to his neck and he pulled off his tie and shrugged his shoulders out of his blazer. “There’s something I need to do.”
Thornton knew he needed to talk to the one person who still believed in him. He blasted through the window leaving a bluish trail of prana behind him. Asher frowned.
“He didn’t even try the chicken wings! Oh, well. More for me.”
* * *
The tension between the two men was thick.
Amelia poured a steaming hot cup of tea for their guest before sitting beside her eldest son and looking up at Thornton. “Well, sweetie. What did you come here to tell us?” she asked in a friendly manner.
Thornton took the tiny teacup into his hands and stared at it for a moment before sipping it.
“It’s about Pax…”
“Oh, Thorn. It was probably something silly, wasn’t it?” Amelia smiled nervously. “I know my granddaughter isn’t perfect. She’s always had a temper and at times she can be completely irrational.”
Raymond stared at Thornton, his lips tightly sealed. Thornton glanced from Amelia to Raymond, trying to find the words. “Pax wasn’t irrational,” Thornton said, gazing down at his tea.
“Nonsense!” said Amelia with a laugh. “Nearly killing you is very irrational. But that’s the deva temper for you—I can assure you she doesn’t get that from my side of the family. You really don’t have to defend her, dear. We know Paxie can be pretty immature. She overreacts to just the slightest thing sometimes.”
“She didn’t overreact,” said Thornton softly.
“Let me guess: she probably found some lipstick on your shirt?” offered Amelia.
Thornton shook his head.
“Did one of your crazy stalkers call her and profess love for you? Try to threaten her?”
Thornton shook his head again.
Amelia smiled. “Well, do tell what happened, my boy! What sent her off the deep end? Did she find someone’s phone number in your wallet? A receipt for going to a strip club? A photograph of you with another girl? What was it?”
Thornton stared at Amelia, unable to speak. He had known the old woman’s kindness since he was a boy. At first she had just been “Asher’s mom” but she had quickly grown to feel more like his own adopted mother; he couldn’t believe she was making excuses for him. He couldn’t believe that the Burnsons thought Pax had acted out of unfounded jealousy. He couldn’t believe that they thought so highly of him. They had all trusted him so much, and he had disappointed them.
Raymond continued observing Thornton and waiting for him to come clean and explain the situation. There must be an explanation. Why else would he be here? There was an awkward moment of silence as Thornton examined his teacup. It was suddenly the most interesting porcelain receptacle in the world.
“Thorn.” This was Raymond speaking finally, and the eyes of the two men met. “I have always loved you as a dear friend, and as a member of the family. When you were a toddler, you were always underfoot with my little brother, and it was hard to think of Ash without thinking of you. You two were more inseparable than twins. You certainly caused enough trouble to be related,” said Raymond with a chuckle. He sipped his own tea. “After my wife died, you really stepped up to help me take care of my little girl. I’m ashamed to say that you did more than I could do—and a few months ago when you told me the big news, I couldn’t have been happier. You must know, Thorn—there’s no one I could be more honored to have as my son-in-law. There's no one else I could possibly trust more with
my daughter.”
Raymond swallowed and looked at his friend directly as he spoke. “I knew that you always have and always would do everything in your power to take care of Paxie and keep her safe from harm. I know that there’s some mistake here, and that you didn’t really…”
Thornton felt tears slip from his eyes.
It all sunk in. It fully hit him for the first time. Asher was right. He hadn’t just betrayed Pax; he had betrayed her family. The family who had been his second family since his birth. He had betrayed everyone. He had lashed out at Asher and hurt him, and probably helped along the destruction of his sister’s relationship. Raymond had been his mentor; someone Thornton admired with every ounce of his being. The dark-haired monk was a better, kinder version of his own dad; Vincent was powerful, but without humanity or compassion. If only Thornton could have foreseen this moment when he had made that fateful decision, he never would have chosen to go down this path. But it had all happened so fast…
“I’m so sorry, Raymond.”
Amelia and Raymond shared a glance. It was a knowing glance that only a mother and son could share, and one that communicated volumes without the need for speech or gesture. Amelia's lips became firmly set in anger, but she still couldn't bear to see Thornton upset. She went over to the blonde man and put her arms around him in a tender embrace.
He couldn’t believe this: the Burnsons were still showing him such care and kindness after what he’d done. It had always been their way. He didn’t deserve it. This brought more tears, and Thornton soaked Amelia’s shoulder, finding comfort in the closeness of her energy and her scent, both so similar to Pax’s.
Amelia stroked his back in a motherly fashion, and when his shaking subsided she held him at an arm's length and dotted his tears away with a handkerchief. Then she spoke, her voice as cold as ice:
“I think you should get the fuck out of our home.”
Thornton blinked. One moment Amelia was kind and gentle, the next moment she was a raging she-demon. Just like Pax. The Burnson women were in a league of their own.
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